Robin Hood

I haven’t seen “Robin Hood” yet but Kenneth Turan, the senior film critic for the Los Angeles Times, watched it at the Cannes Film Festival… When you call a movie ” Robin Hood,” you set up expectations: a gallant archer, a maid named Marion, a band of Merry Men, a crusading king and a certain camaraderie in Sherwood Forest. The latest version has those elements, but they don’t play out in a way that’s easy to recognize or respond to, and that’s a problem. It’s an especially frustrating problem because the key creative people involved in the film are among the best in the business and their work here is for the most part solid. Director Ridley Scott is a contemporary master of wide screen action entertainment, Oscar-winning screenwriter Brian Helgeland is coming off a strong showing in “Green Zone” […]

Susan King takes a look at some vintage Robin Hood films and finds that, unlike the legendary archer, they miss more often than they hit. With Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” opening Friday with Russell Crowe as the latest incarnation of the hero who robbed from the rich to give to the poor in 12th century England, there’s suddenly Merrie Men of yore everywhere on the home-video shelf. This week, for instance, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment just released a quartet of vintage “Robin” movies on DVD. But the collection is definitely a mixed bag. Here’s a look at each of them… “THE BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST” Cinematographer Tony Guadio, who shot the 1938 Technicolor classic “The Adventures of Robin Hood” with Errol Flynn, was the director of cinematography of this luscious-looking 1946 action-romance. But that’s the best thing about this production. Matinee idol Cornel Wilde, […]

At 24 Frames, John Horn reports that Ridley Scott will not attend the premiere of “Robin Hood,” the adventure film starring Russell Crowe that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The 72-year-old Scott, who teamed with Crowe in the Oscar-winning “Gladiator,” recently underwent knee replacement surgery. “My recovery has been slower than I’d hoped,” Scott said in a statement. “Truly, doctor’s orders are the only thing that could keep me from being there.” He said the Universal film’s lead actors, including Cate Blanchett, and producer Brian Grazer will be able to attend the Wednesday night premiere … THERE’S MORE, READ THE REST — John Horn RECENT AND RELATED Ridley Scott brings “Alien” and “Blade Runner” to L.A. on June 13 Ridley Scott on “Robin Hood”: “There’s a very strong destiny story” Ridley Scott rolls dice on “Monopoly” Ridley Scott takes Robin […]

Ridley Scott is already talking about sequels to “Robin Hood,” and considering the compelling scenes from the May 14 release, he may be right to consider this a rich new territory for his cinematic plunder. John Horn has a preview of the film; this is a much longer version of his Sunday Calendar story on the movie and it’s accompanied by some new behind-the-scenes video. Whatever you say about Russell Crowe’s up-with-people campaign against unresponsive, property-grabbing government in “Robin Hood,” don’t suggest to its makers that the historical epic is the first tea party movie. “No, no,” says screenwriter Brian Helgeland. “That would not be good.” For all of its 12th century trappings, Helgeland and director Ridley Scott’s retelling of the mythical English archer story tries to be thematically contemporary. Rather than a steal-from-the rich yeoman, the film’s titular hero is […]